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TAHLEQUAH, OKLAHOMA - Principal Chief Chad Smith has vetoed two actions of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council: a proposal to draw new election districts less than four months before filing begins for the next election and a controversial budget amendment. Smith said he vetoed the budget modification because the act provided for a second bonus for employees just weeks after Smith distributed the largest bonus pool in Cherokee Nation history. “As deserving as our employees are, it is hard to justify giving out another bonus so soon after the first one,” Smith said. “The double bonus proposed by one council member is nothing more than a transparent attempt to buy votes in an election year, and many of our employees see right through it. A lot of them have told me they were happy with the first bonus and would rather see us use this money for services for our citizens. I think that speaks a lot for our employees.” Smith said he regrets the fact that other budget items must also be rejected as part of the veto, but the Council made it impossible to do otherwise. “The Tribal Council had an opportunity to vote separately on the double bonus but voted specifically not to,” Smith said. “Instead, they made the decision to play an old political game. They tried to slip the double bonus into a budget act that was meant only to provide needed services for citizens.” Smith’s objections to the redistricting plan focused on the changes coming so close to an election. “Changing voting districts at the last minute could cause chaos in upcoming elections,” Smith said. “For the average Cherokee citizen, this proposal changes who they can vote for and where they can vote, all without any input from the citizens themselves. The plan does a good job protecting the home base of incumbent council members, but it eliminates citizen input from the redistricting process.” Chief Smith’s full veto message can be seen on the Cherokee Nation’s web site. Read the November 2006 Enactments: Approved and Vetoed Legislative Acts View the proposed redistricting maps.

Related Cherokee Nation contact information:

Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager Cherokee Nation - Public Affairs Phone 918-456-0671 (Ex.2324) E-mail: ldaugherty@cherokee.org

Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation Natural Resources Specialist Phone: 918-456-0671 (ex.2843) E-mail: bpeak@cherokee.org